Maine Governor Declares Emergency to Help Restore Power

February 23, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci has issued an Emergency Declaration extending the hours of service for power crews to help restore electricity.

The Emergency Declaration was issued at 9 a.m. today to expedite power restoration for the households and businesses in the State currently without electricity.

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Governor Baldacci participated in several calls yesterday and this morning and has been fully briefed on the winter storm. He remains in close contact with officials at the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

The Governor has been in Washington, D.C., since Saturday participating in the 2009 National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Conference. The Governor, who was originally to remain at the NGA winter meeting throughout the remainder of the day, has changed his plans to return to Maine this afternoon.

The State of Emergency proclamation will facilitate a waiver from the Federal Department of Transportation to extend the hours of service for electrical workers and allow additional crews from other states to assist with repairs.

The text of the Emergency Declaration follows:

WHEREAS, the State of Maine is experiencing a severe winter storm that has left thousands of Maine homes and businesses out of power; and

WHEREAS, work crews will have to work many hours to restore power; and

WHEREAS, power restoration crews will be requested from other states and potentially from Canadian provinces to assist in power restoration; and

WHEREAS, federal rules determine the number of hours the driver of an electrical line repair vehicle may operate; and

WHEREAS, drivers of such vehicles must cease operations when they reach the federal limit on hours of operation, and therefore would have to cease power restoration; and

WHEREAS, these conditions threaten public health and safety and endanger public property if power cannot be restored to Maine homes and businesses; and

WHEREAS, the declaration of a State of Emergency will facilitate the granting of a waiver from the Federal Department of Transportation, pursuant to 49 CFR part 390.23 to allow relief from 49 CFR parts 390 through 399 subject to the limitations described below, and therefore allow these power crews to operate additional hours and otherwise operate effectively in this situation,

NOW THEREFORE, I, John Elias Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of Maine, find that these conditions constitute a civil emergency under 37-B M.R.S.A. section 742, and for the purpose pursuant to 49 CFR part 390.23 of facilitating a waiver to Federal Department of Transportation Rules, specifically 49 CFR part 395 Hours of Service of Drivers, do hereby declare that a State of Emergency exists as of February 23, 2009.

Source: Maine Governor